Peter Thomas

Peter Thomas was one of the greatest composers of popular music we've ever had – a prime example of a consistently unpretentious German artistic existence and a role model for all those determined to dream of something beyond the borders of this small, safe country, yet without immediately seeking their fortune across the Atlantic. The immortality of his best melodies carries within it a lesson that cannot be taken to heart often enough: that what is truly visionary and enduring often arises not from excruciating effort, celebrated grand artistry, and dogged authorship, but just as much from effortless routine, elegant craftsmanship, and spontaneous madness between deadlines—when the latest erotic flick has just been scored and the deadline for the next Edgar Wallace film is already looming.